tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post6479631061929607389..comments2023-11-28T12:21:53.986-08:00Comments on Kevin on Congregations: Running a Church and Growing ItDean Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-73719539446967367072012-10-18T08:41:25.328-07:002012-10-18T08:41:25.328-07:00Yep Jim, not on most Episcopal Churches radar scre...Yep Jim, not on most Episcopal Churches radar screens. Hence so many are stagnant or in decline.Dean Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-2234063820574366292012-10-18T07:28:38.722-07:002012-10-18T07:28:38.722-07:00Kevin,
Of course I agree completely with your ide...Kevin,<br /><br />Of course I agree completely with your ideas, as I have over the years. Yet, growing a church is really not a primary concern of most Episcopal churches. For the most part, Episcopal churhes are for its members, not for those seekers, unchurched or what ever we name them.<br /> <br />The recent 2011 numbers bear that out at least in the Diocese of NC. For the last 10 years, most churches remain at the smae level of ASA,<br />essentially no growth.<br /><br />Whether it's the leadership, culture or adherence to a syle, unfortuanetly growth is not on the radar screen of most churches.<br /><br />I read several years ago that mainline churches are like clubs for its members. That era has paseed as has many of the clubs. Churches need to be for "those who are not part of us." That is a difficult concept for many EC's.<br /><br />regards,<br />Jim Baker<br />Cary, NC<br /><br />Of note: We became part of a UMC church after the diocese closed our EC plant (400 ASA in 2002,<br />35 in 2011). The UMC bought the EC site and planted a new UMC. Last Sun. the same UMC opened another new plant (500+ adults, 120 kids on launch Sun.) The new plants name: 519Church, minimal reference to a mainline name!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-45642115257939872942012-10-07T06:09:01.927-07:002012-10-07T06:09:01.927-07:00You've said many good things, but it is import...You've said many good things, but it is important that you had the unique perspective of a life-long Episcopalian. Most folks visiting our churches complain about how "unfriendly" we are. Dean Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-19386095879617004822012-10-06T17:53:24.951-07:002012-10-06T17:53:24.951-07:00Nice posting, thanks. Nice posting, thanks. Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15179891820675214376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-1805233263153038852012-10-05T15:19:48.981-07:002012-10-05T15:19:48.981-07:00Recently I moved to a new town and went about syst...Recently I moved to a new town and went about systematically trying to find a church home where I could feel comfortable and loved. I am a cradle Episcopalian, so I started attending every Episcopal church in town for at least 4 weeks in a row to explore what the church and the people of the church were like. While I agree with some points in this blog, I will say that some places I've been have people taking things to extremes along this mindset. Vigilante friendliness, I usually call it. One priest frightened me so much before I even made it in the door to the church that it made me feel so uncomfortable that I turned around and left! I'd been there a couple of weeks when the main priest had been on vacation when a supply priest was serving and had enjoyed the experience, but when the real priest came I felt so attacked before I even made it into the door that it alarmed me enough to toally turn me off!! Admittedly, I tend to be afraid of people until I know them well....so the vigilante friendliness factor might be only something that scares and intimidates me.....but I still think that making someone feel TOOO noticed as someone new and different when they very first come in is FAR more of a turn-off than it is a turn-on. I went to one church where the preaching was marvelous, where the singing was magnificent and I returned there week after week and even eventually joined the choir....but when I made it known that I needed help and support through the illness and eventual death of my older disabled sister whom I'd been caring for there was absolutely no pastoral care at all, in fact I was made to feel guilty and sinful because I didn't come to choir during the time my sister was dying. I stopped going there because even though the church was running well on most points, I found I felt no kinship....and I got far more actual pastoral care from the pastors and church members at places I had attended in other states. What matters to me is not necessarily what happens in the first 15 minutes I'm there, but in the genuineness of the treatment I'm given as an individual child of God there. Vigilante friendliness in the first 15 minutes followed by being swallowed into a faceless, nameless mass of humanity where no real, lasting kinship is felt is just not what I need and want from a church. Now I attend a tiny church, where I was allowed to attend and gradually get to know a few people before....where if I don't show up a week or two someone emails or calls or checks in with me because they are just generally aware that I am now alone in the world and they truly do seem to care--not just because I am not a warm body in their church pew or choir chair, but because I am me and they want to be sure I am OK. If you want to build churches, develop that....the warm, fuzzy, awesome sense that everyone in that church is intrinsically interconnected in kinship with everyone else that walks through that door. Not just for 15 minutes or for what that person can do for the church while they're inside the church doors...but because they are a unique and beautiful child of God.musicgeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07024072065983817196noreply@blogger.com